1. The Function of Fairy Tales

2. Parents and teachers have many tools at their disposal to assist in the socialization of young children. One of the most effective tools is literature. Of the various forms of literature written for children, the fairy tale has had the longest run of popularity. What is it about fairy tales that makes them such an enduring agent of socialization? According to a leading psychologist, it is because they help children master the problems of growing up. They stimulate children’s imaginations and allow them to deal with their subconscious fears.

3. Introduction to the Real World
Fairy tales provide an introduction to the real world. Their message is that evil and virtue, good and bad exist in everything. Fairy tales also teach children that difficulties in life are unavoidable and must be met head on. Children see the fairy-tale hero confront evil and, through cleverness or bravery, find a way to triumph. The lessons contained in fairy tales can be indirect, however.

4. According to the same psychologist, children do not identify with the “good” or “bad” act. Rather, they identify with the hero, who happens to be good. The hero serves as a role model for the young child. Children do not ask, “Do I want to be good?” instead they ask, “Whom do I want to be like?” this distinction is important. It enables children to learn socially acceptable behaviors before they are old enough to grasp the moral issues involved.

5. Structure and Content
The structure of the fairy tale is ideally suited to the way young children think. Children cannot understand the complexities of the adult world. Situations and people are right or wrong, good or bad. Fairy tales mimic this simplified view of the world. Fundamental issues are presented in a with/or format that children can easily grasp. The witch is bad and ugly. The princess is kind and beautiful. The prince is strong and brave. Good always triumphs over evil.

6. More important than the structure of fairy tales is the subject matter
More important than the structure of fairy tales is the subject matter. Love, fear, death, isolation, and abandonment are prominent themes. Addressing such subjects allows young children to confront fears that they might not be able to express in their own words. Fairy tales have the added advantage of taking on new meanings as a child grows.

7. In the case of Cinderella, for example, very young children can understand the message of good Cinderella winning out over her bad stepsister. Older children also might grasp the notion of sibling rivalry contained in the story.

8. In short, the important function of fairy tales rests not in telling a literal story or in providing simple moral truths. Instead, it rests in allowing children to grasp the contradictions that exist in human nature and social life. Fairy tales do this in a way that is particularly suited to the developmental skills of growing children. By capturing children’s imaginations and allowing them to explore their unspoken fears, fairy tales help to mold social behavior.